Refrigerator divider assemblies and methods

ABSTRACT

Refrigerator dividing assemblies and methods are disclosed. An example refrigerator dividing assembly includes a pair of dividers configured to be selectively positionable in a refrigerator, each of the dividers having a respective engaging feature; and a spacer having a first dimension along a first axis, a second different dimension along a second axis, a first pair of engaging features near ends of the spacer along the first axis, the first pair of engaging features configured to engage respective ones of the divider engaging features to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally a first distance, and a second pair of engaging features near ends of the spacer along the second different axis, the second pair of engaging features configured to engage the respective ones of the divider engaging features to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally a second distance.

BACKGROUND

Refrigerators typically have drawers and baskets that facilitate the refrigeration of items in the refrigerator. In some refrigerators, the drawers and/or baskets have selectively moveable dividers.

SUMMARY

An example refrigerator dividing assembly includes a pair of dividers configured to be selectively positionable in a refrigerator to divide a volume of the refrigerator into at least two spaces, each of the dividers having a respective engaging feature. The example assembly further includes a spacer having a first dimension along a first axis, a second different dimension along a second axis, a first pair of engaging features near ends of the spacer along the first axis, the first pair of engaging features configured to engage respective ones of the divider engaging features to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally a first distance, and a second pair of engaging features near ends of the spacer along the second different axis, the second pair of engaging features configured to engage the respective ones of the divider engaging features to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally a second distance.

An example method of positioning first and second dividers in a refrigerator, the method includes selecting a first of two or more orientations of a spacer corresponding to a desired distance between the dividers, the spacer having different dimensions in the two or more orientations, engaging a first end of the spacer associated with the first orientation with the first divider, and engaging a second opposite end of the spacer associated with the first orientation with the second divider to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally the desired distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an example variable width spacer constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an example divider constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 2B is an illustration of a portion of the example divider of FIG. 2A in detail.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of example refrigerator divider assemblies formed from the example variable width spacer of FIG. 1 and the example divider of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate other example variable width spacers constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example method of assembling the example refrigerator divider assemblies disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For ease of discussion, the examples disclosed herein are described in the context of a refrigerator, and apply to any compartment of a refrigerator including a freezing compartment. However, it should be understood that the examples disclosed herein are also applicable to any selectively dividable portion of an icemaker, a wine cooler, a freezer, a dishwasher, etc. Moreover, the examples disclosed herein may be used in connection with many any other appliances, structures and/or devices having selectively positionable dividers.

The dividers of some refrigerators are selectively positionable to allow a user to form divided areas of different sizes. That is, dividers allow a user to divide a volume of a refrigerator into different spaces. In most instances, the refrigerators do not include means to hold dividers at intended locations. Thus, for example, when a plurality of items having a consistent length (e.g., pop cans) are placed between dividers, the dividers may undesirably separate causing haphazard storage of the items, which often results in user frustration.

To overcome at least these problems, variable width spacers and dividers are disclosed that allow a pair of dividers to be fixedly held at generally a desired distance apart. Moreover, because the variable width spacers disclosed herein have different dimensions in different directions or along different axes, the same variable width spacer can be used to hold a pair of dividers apart by different distances.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of this disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are described below by referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. When like reference numerals are shown, corresponding description(s) are not repeated and the interested reader is instead referred to the description of the previously discussed figure(s) for a description of the like element(s).

FIG. 1 illustrates an example variable width spacer 100 constructed in accordance with this disclosure. The example spacer 100 of FIG. 1 has a hexagonal shape having a length X along a first direction or axis 105 that is smaller than a length Y along a second direction or axis 106. Thus, when the spacer 100 is engaged between a pair of dividers along the first axis 105 the distance between the dividers will be smaller than if the spacer 100 were engaged between the dividers along the second axis 106.

To engage dividers, ends of the example spacer 100 along the axes 105, 106 have respective engaging features, one of which is designated at reference numeral 110. In the example of FIG. 1, the engaging features 110 are slots defined through the spacer 100. As discussed below, an opposite pair of the engaging features 110 may be used to positively engage a pair of dividers at different ends of the spacer 100, thus fixedly hold the dividers apart by a distance generally corresponding to the dimension or length of the spacer 100 between the engaging features 110.

As used herein, fixedly holding two parts means the parts are mechanically held in a generally constant physical orientation, separation, angle, etc. However, it will be understood that due to tolerances, material flexibility, etc. variations in, for example, distance, angle, orientation, separation, etc. may occur. Moreover, fixedly holding two parts together does not exclude the parts from being able to be disassembled, or from being organically disassembled in response to, for example, forces created during ordinary use.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an example divider 200 constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. As will be understood, the overall shape(s), feature(s), dimensions(s), etc. of the example divider 200 correspond to the space or volume in a refrigerator in which the divider 200 is intended to be used, and thus will not be further discussed herein. To engage the example spacer 100 of FIG. 1, the divider 200 includes an engaging feature 205 (see FIG. 2B). The example engaging feature 205 of FIG. 2B has a slot 210 defined through the divider 200, and having a protrusion 215 extending into the slot 210. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2B, the length A of the protrusion 215 generally corresponds to the length A of the slots 110. The slot 210 has a length B generally corresponding to the width of the spacer 100 at the slots 110. Tolerances in the lengths A, B may be intentionally introduced to facilitate, for example, ease of aligning and engaging the features 110, 205.

The spacer 100 and the divider 200 can be engaged by inserting an end of the spacer 100 at one end of one of the axes 105, 106 (one of which is designated at reference numeral 115) into the slot 210. A portion of the end 115 of the spacer 100 will pass through the divider 200 until the protrusion 215 engages the slot 110 at the end 115.

In example refrigerator divider assemblies shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the spacer 100 is engaged between a pair of dividers 200, the spacer 100 fixedly holds the dividers 200 apart by generally a desired or selected distance. In the example of FIG. 3, ends 115 of the spacer 100 along the axis 106 fixedly engage the dividers 200. In the example of FIG. 4, ends 115 of the spacer 100 along the axis 105 fixedly engage the dividers 200. Because the spacer 100 is shorter along the axis 105 than along the axis 106, the dividers 200 are fixedly held closer together in FIG. 4 than in FIG. 3. When placed in a refrigerator, the example divider assemblies could be used to form three spaces in the refrigerator.

In some examples, the spacer 100 is rotationally fixed to a bottom of a compartment or space in a refrigerator at a point of rotation. In such examples, the center or middle point between a pair of dividers 200 is generally at the point of rotation. In still other examples, one of the dividers 200 is, for example, a sidewall of a compartment, volume, drawer, etc. in a refrigerator. For example, a sidewall of a drawer, the spacer 100 and one divider 200 can be used to define two spaces in the drawer.

In the examples of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3 and 4, the engaging features 205 of the dividers 200 are at or near, and generally parallel to the bottom of the dividers 200. Accordingly, the spacer 100 will lie generally flat and parallel to the plane from which the dividers 200 extend upward. Alternatively, the engaging features 205 could have other orientations. For example, if they extend upward along the dividers 200, the spacers 100 would be perpendicular to the plane from which the dividers 200 extend upward, thereby providing additional divided compartments.

While the example variable width spacers 100 disclosed herein are shown and described with reference to example shapes and features, it will be understood that additional or alternative shapes and configurations may be implemented or provided. For example, a rectangular shape (see FIG. 5A), an oval shape (see FIG. 5B) or a cross shape (see FIG. 5C) spacer may alternatively be used to implement two different separation distance spacers. Moreover, more than two separation distances, for example, as shown in FIG. 5D may be implemented.

Moreover, other engagement features that those shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B may be used to fixedly connect a spacer and a divider. For example, a spacer may have protrusions that engage an indent defined on a surface of a divider, a spacer may have two protrusions that engage opposite sides of a slot defined in a divider, etc.

The variable width spacers, dividers and divider assemblies disclosed herein may be implemented using any number and/or type(s) of materials and finishes. The type of materials and finishes implemented may, for example, depend on the environmental conditions in which they are intended to operate, cost, and/or aesthetics. Moreover, a spacer and a divider need not be implemented using the same materials and finishes.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method that may be used to form a refrigerator dividing assembly in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. A person selects an orientation of the spacer 100 corresponding to a desired distance between a pair of dividers 200 (block 605). The person engages an end of the spacer 100 at an end along the orientation with a first divider 200 (block 610), and engages an opposite end of the spacer 100 with a second divider 200 (block 615). The refrigerator dividing assembly may be disassembled by a person, with the method of FIG. 6 selectively performed for the same or a different separation distance.

Any use herein of terms such as up, down, top, bottom, side, end, front, back, etc. are with reference to a currently described or illustrated orientation. If such an element is considered with respect to another orientation, it should be understood that such terms must be correspondingly modified.

Moreover, terms such as, but not limited to, approximately, substantially, generally, etc. are used herein to indicate that a precise value, relationship, position, orientation, etc. is not required, need not be specified, etc. As used herein, such terms will have ready and instant meaning to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” do not exclude the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Further, conjunctions such as “and,” “or,” and “and/or” used in this specification and the appended claims are inclusive unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, “A and/or B” includes A alone, B alone, and A with B: “A or B” includes A with B, and “A and B” includes A alone, and B alone. Further still, connecting :lines or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the embodiments disclosed herein unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent. 

1. A refrigerator dividing assembly, comprising: a pair of dividers configured to be selectively positionable in a refrigerator to divide a volume of the refrigerator into at least two spaces, each of the dividers having a respective engaging feature; and a spacer having: a first dimension along a first axis; a second different dimension along a second axis; a first pair of engaging features near ends of the spacer along the first axis, the first pair of engaging features configured to engage respective ones of the divider engaging features to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally a first distance; and a second pair of engaging features near ends of the spacer along the second different axis, the second pair of engaging features configured to engage the respective ones of the divider engaging features to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally a second distance.
 2. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer further has: a third dimension along a third axis, the third dimension different than the first and second dimensions; and a third pair of engaging features near ends of the spacer along the third axis, the third pair of engaging features configured to engage respective ones of the divider engaging features to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally a third distance, the third distance different than the first and second distances.
 3. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a one of the first and second pairs of engaging features comprises a first slot defined therethrough; and wherein a one of the respective engaging features of the pair of dividers comprises: a second slot defined therethrough and dimensioned to allow the end of the spacer associated with the one engaging feature of the spacer to pass therethrough; and a protrusion to engage the first slot.
 4. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a one of the first and second pairs of engaging features comprises a protrusion; and wherein a one of the respective engaging features of the pair of dividers comprises: a slot defined therethrough and dimensioned to allow the end of the spacer associated with the one engaging feature of the spacer to pass therethrough; and an indent in the slot to engage the protrusion.
 5. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a one of the first and second pairs of engaging features comprises a pair of protrusions; wherein a one of the respective engaging features of the pair of dividers comprises a slot defined therethrough and dimensioned to allow the end of the spacer associated with the one engaging feature of the spacer to pass therethrough; and wherein the pair of protrusions are configured to engage opposite sides of the divider associated with the one of the engaging features of the pair of dividers.
 6. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the engaging feature of a one of the dividers is near and generally parallel to a bottom of the one of the dividers.
 7. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the engaging feature of a one of the dividers is perpendicular to a bottom of the one of the dividers, and wherein when the dividers are fixedly held by the spacer, the dividers and the spacer are generally perpendicular to the same plane.
 8. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a polygonal shape, and the first and second axes are between respective opposing sides of the polygonal shape.
 9. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a hexagonal shape, and the first and second axes are between respective opposing sides of the hexagonal shape
 10. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a rectangular shape, and the first and second axes are between respective opposing sides of the rectangular shape.
 11. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises an oval shape, and the first and second axes correspond to respective axes of the oval shape.
 12. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a cross shape, and the first and second axes correspond to respective arms of the cross shape.
 13. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a first of dividers comprises a sidewall of a compartment of the refrigerator, or a sidewall of a drawer of the refrigerator.
 14. A refrigerator dividing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer is rotatably fixedly mounted.
 15. A method of positioning first and second dividers in a refrigerator, the method comprising: selecting a first of two or more orientations of a spacer corresponding to a desired distance between the dividers, the spacer having different dimensions in the two or more orientations; engaging a first end of the spacer associated with the first orientation with the first divider; and engaging a second opposite end of the spacer associated with the first orientation with the second divider to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally the desired distance.
 16. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising: selecting a second of two or more orientations of the spacer corresponding to a second different desired distance between the dividers; disengaging the spacer from both dividers; engaging a third end of the spacer associated with the second orientation with the first divider; and engaging a fourth opposite end of the spacer associated with the second orientation with the second divider to fixedly hold the dividers apart by generally the second desired distance.
 17. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein engaging the first end of the spacer with the first divider comprises engaging a slot defined through the spacer with a protrusion defined in a slot defined through the first divider. 